MAY-AUGUST 2009
MUSINGS FROM MARIJO - A WORD FROM OUR PRESIDENT
We have a good thing going in our local EGA Chapter. We have great members who collectively have a lot of knowledge about stitching, both historical and practical, that they are willing to share. What we don’t have are people willing to be officers. We should elect an AM and a PM program chair and an AM and a PM secretary and a workshop chair. I couldn’t even get anyone to be on the nominating committee. Our chapter business and meetings don’t just happen. They must be planned and scheduled, and our members have to be told about those plans. We need more volunteers so that everyone’s load can be a little lighter. Please consider what you can do to alleviate this situation. I want to thank Bobbie S. for volunteering to be publicity chair.
I am looking forward to our summer stitch-ins at the Gaines Township Library. I hope to see many of you there.
I am looking forward to our summer stitch-ins at the Gaines Township Library. I hope to see many of you there.
CALENDAR
May
4 Sampler Group - Monday at 12:30 - Call Susie
15 Board Meeting - Friday at 9:30 at Marijo's
28 Potluck - Thursday at 5:45 at Plainfield Senior Center
June
1 Sampler Group - Monday at 12:30 - Call Susie
27 Stitch-in - Saturday 9:30-5:00 at Gaines Public Library
July
25 Betsy Morgan Workshop - Saturday 9:30-5:00 at Gaines Public Library - NOTE DATE CHANGE
August
1 Stitch-in - Saturday 9:30-5:00 at Gaines Public Library
10 Newsletter info due
18 Board Meeting - Tuesday at 7:00 at Jane's
22 Stitch-in - Saturday 9:30-5:00 at Gaines Public Library
FORD MUSEUM EXHIBIT * UPDATE *
In conjunction with the Caroline Kennedy dolls exhibit at the Gerald Ford Museum, the Studio Art Quilt Association will have a display entitled "Musings" June 19 to August 30, 2009. The museum has many special events that may be of interest to our members. On June 22-26 there will be ethnic doll making workshops for children aged 9-12. Each Wednesday will be Family Days, and there will be opportunities to create colorful paper quilt squares. For more information on these events, call 616-254-0384 or www.fordlibrarymuseum.gov.
ANNUAL POTLUCK
We will hold our annual potluck dinner at the Plainfield Senior Center on Thursday, May 28. Setting up at 5:45, dinner will begin at 6:00 PM. Our program will be a slide presentation from National entitled Church Embroidery in America. You will need no stitching supplies for this, but you, of course, may want to show off your latest project so we can all see (and decide we absolutely need another good project for our stashes). This meeting is always a good time to invite a friend who is interested in embroidery and might be a potential member. A non-member may attend one meeting before joining.
Sign-up sheets for what to bring were passed around at the April day and night meetings. Otherwise, plan to bring dishes based on the following groupings determined by the first letter of your last name.
Side Dishes A-FSign-up sheets for what to bring were passed around at the April day and night meetings. Otherwise, plan to bring dishes based on the following groupings determined by the first letter of your last name.
Salads G-K
Desserts M-R
Main Dishes S-Z
In addition to a dish to pass, we are asking people to bring a place setting and napkin for themselves and their guests. (We are joining the green movement!)
SUMMER STITCH-INS
By popular request we have again secured the Gaines Library (corner of 68th and Madison SE) to hold summer stitch-ins (NOTE DATE CHANGE) on the fourth Saturday in June and August, and on August 1. There is plenty of room for us to set out our projects and the lighting is great. The library opens at 9:30 AM, and we tend to stay until 3:00-4:00 PM. Lunch is on your own with some people bring theirs, and others exploring the many nearby restaurants. Come and share the stitching fun. See what others are working on and get new ideas for projects to do!
WORKSHOP * UPDATE *(NOTE CHANGE OF DATE) Due to problem's with Betsy Morgan's schedule, we have changed the date for the workshop to Saturday, July 25. The workshop will be held at the Gaines Public Library. Two projects were selected. In the morning we will start promptly at 9:30 AM with the “All Year Cube”. We will break briefly for lunch from 12:30 to 1:00. Afterwards, we will start the “Quaker School Girl Etui”. You may do either one or both of these projects.
Because the lunch break is so short, there will not be time to go out so you may plan to bring your lunch or order a light luncheon with us (meats, cheese, croissants, salads, chips, desserts, drinks).
In order to plan for the workshop you must turn in the coupon (in this newsletter below) with your money to Jane W. no later than at the potluck dinner May 28. Make checks payable to GGREGA. Checks may or may not be deposited until July. Jane hopes to be able to get the kits early so that you may do some prestitching. Therefore, be sure Jane has a way to contact you during the summer.
Because the lunch break is so short, there will not be time to go out so you may plan to bring your lunch or order a light luncheon with us (meats, cheese, croissants, salads, chips, desserts, drinks).
In order to plan for the workshop you must turn in the coupon (in this newsletter below) with your money to Jane W. no later than at the potluck dinner May 28. Make checks payable to GGREGA. Checks may or may not be deposited until July. Jane hopes to be able to get the kits early so that you may do some prestitching. Therefore, be sure Jane has a way to contact you during the summer.
* * * * * * * *
BETSY MORGAN WORKSHOP
All Year Square $70 _____________
Quaker School Girl Etui $110 ______________
Lunch $7 ______________
Total enclosed ______________
Name__________________________________________________________________
Money due to Jane W. by May 28 , 2009
(Checks may or may not be deposited until July.)
All Year Square $70 _____________
Quaker School Girl Etui $110 ______________
Lunch $7 ______________
Total enclosed ______________
Name__________________________________________________________________
Money due to Jane W. by May 28 , 2009
(Checks may or may not be deposited until July.)
* * * * * * * *
BOARD NEWS
Nominating Committee: A nominating committee is being formed to recommend candidates for the following offices: Secretary, Day and Night; Programs, Day and Night; and Workshops. If you are willing to serve on this committee, contact Marijo. This committee will present a slate to the membership in September, and then the election is held in October. New officers will be installed at the Christmas party.
By-Laws Committee: In accordance with National EGA's policy, we are due to review our by-laws. Margie S. will chair this committee. Vonnie H. and Peggy H. have already volunteered to serve here. Anyone else interested in working on this should contact Margie or Marijo. The group plans to present the revisions, if any, to the membership in the fall.
New Location: * UPDATE * This fall the night group will meet at a new location for their meetings. The new location is Heather Hills at Forest Hills and Cascade Roads on the same night and at the same time. More information to follow.
By-Laws Committee: In accordance with National EGA's policy, we are due to review our by-laws. Margie S. will chair this committee. Vonnie H. and Peggy H. have already volunteered to serve here. Anyone else interested in working on this should contact Margie or Marijo. The group plans to present the revisions, if any, to the membership in the fall.
New Location: * UPDATE * This fall the night group will meet at a new location for their meetings. The new location is Heather Hills at Forest Hills and Cascade Roads on the same night and at the same time. More information to follow.
ANNUAL DUESIn the past we have collected dues by the quarter in which you joined. Next year the National EGA is going to collect all national dues in the spring quarter. In order to make it simpler for our members, we have decided to do this as well. This quarter we will collect dues for those who would normally have paid in the winter or spring. If your dues were payable in either of these quarters, they are now due in the amounts shown below:
Winter $53.75
Spring $43.00
If your dues should be paid in the summer, this year only, you will pay $32.25. If you pay in the fall, your dues this year only will be $21.50. For both of these the dues will come payable in their usual quarters.
After this, everyone’s dues will again be $43 yearly but always due by May 31.
* INDIANA STATE DAY * UPDATE *
Needle Artisans of Northwest Indiana will host Indiana State Day on Saturday, October 17, 2009. The theme this year is Web in an Autumn Garden. For more information, check the blog at INStateDay2009.blogspot.com or contact them via email at INStateDay2009 at gmail dot com
SHOP HOP
Mark your calendar for September 11-20 for the annual Michigan Shop Hop. The same stores will be participating except for one that has closed. There will be the usual fun and surprises, and as our group knows so well ---Door prizes!
SCOTCH TAPEMark your calendar for September 11-20 for the annual Michigan Shop Hop. The same stores will be participating except for one that has closed. There will be the usual fun and surprises, and as our group knows so well ---Door prizes!
In Eileen B’s column of usual stitching supplies, she includes scotch tape as one of those items to make sure you bring with you. We all know how wonderful tape is to help take out ripped stitches. At a recent workshop I found more uses for this basic supply. It can be used to hold a strip onto a fabric much like a baste stitch, so you can attach it. Also, tape makes a great straight edge for stitching, even for laying rows of parallel stitches or honeycombing.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
In our area about 20 to 25 homes are finished each year. We have promised to provide a sampler at the dedication of each new home. These samplers are so appreciated by the recipients.
These samplers work up quickly in just one or two evenings. We currently have only enough to meet the summer needs with many of this year’s houses being completed in the fall. Take a pattern (Be sure to use the one using just DMC 912 and 798: it’s the one Habitat prefers) and work up one or more. Peggy is the Chairperson of this committee, with Margie and Marijo serving on this committee. Completed samplers can be given to any of us.
We wish to thank Karen V’s daughter, Jennifer, who graphed the very clear chart which many of us are now using
BLACKWORK GUILD
For those who are interested in blackwork, Leslie Wilkins is creating a special group beginning June 1, 2009. For membership information and details, contact http://www.theblackworkguild.com/. In the early stage of development, this site hopes to become a wealth of information, patterns, designers, history, and museum pieces.
DIRECTORY CORRECTIONS
EVENTS OF INTEREST
Trunk Show The West Michigan Lace Guild is holding its annual trunk show on Monday, May 11 at the Hampton Inn on Alpine Ave. from 4:00 to 9:00 PM. Kathy Kirchner has a store near Detroit that sells all things related to lace making Knitting and crochet with thread. There is a wonderful collection of books as well as all things needed for bobbin lace. The fibers, not to be found here, are so diverse. Anyone interested in any form of lace will find this a fascinating and informative show. You might find another new venue to pursue. The lacemakers there are very friendly and will be happy to help newcomers.
Fiber Fest The annual Fiber Fest is this August 15-16 at the Allegan Fair Grounds. There are booths on all aspects of fiber work, from shearing sheep, to carding, spinning, dyeing weaving , and knitting and much more. There are so many interesting booths including some who sell associated products that are not available elsewhere, such as, books, special yarns, etc. Earlier in the week, there are many workshops and classes. For more information, contact http://www.michiganfiberfest.com/
OUR ADVERTISERS
Our newsletter is possible through the support of our advertisers. Let them know you saw their ad here.
We have discovered a number of corrections for the recently published directory. These include changes for Eileen B., Eleanore B., Barbara C., Susie H., Peggy H., Geri J-B, Janalee K., Kelly L., Carolyn N., Margie S., Karen V., and Carol W. Please contact these people directly or the newsletter editor for the correct information.
EVENTS OF INTEREST
Trunk Show The West Michigan Lace Guild is holding its annual trunk show on Monday, May 11 at the Hampton Inn on Alpine Ave. from 4:00 to 9:00 PM. Kathy Kirchner has a store near Detroit that sells all things related to lace making Knitting and crochet with thread. There is a wonderful collection of books as well as all things needed for bobbin lace. The fibers, not to be found here, are so diverse. Anyone interested in any form of lace will find this a fascinating and informative show. You might find another new venue to pursue. The lacemakers there are very friendly and will be happy to help newcomers.
Fiber Fest The annual Fiber Fest is this August 15-16 at the Allegan Fair Grounds. There are booths on all aspects of fiber work, from shearing sheep, to carding, spinning, dyeing weaving , and knitting and much more. There are so many interesting booths including some who sell associated products that are not available elsewhere, such as, books, special yarns, etc. Earlier in the week, there are many workshops and classes. For more information, contact http://www.michiganfiberfest.com/
OUR ADVERTISERS
Our newsletter is possible through the support of our advertisers. Let them know you saw their ad here.
